Lessons from the Wise Man

The other day, a young man approached three wise old men who lived on the outskirts of town.

“Sir, make me your disciple,” said the young man.

The old man smiled benevolently and replied, “Why do you seek a teacher? Open your eyes, son. Look around you. Everything in this world carries a message for humanity. The flowers, the trees, the mountains, and the rivers—all contribute to our understanding of God and His ways.”

“Everything?” asked the young man skeptically.

“Everything!” emphasized the wise man quietly.

In the distance, the long whistle of an oncoming train could be heard. For a moment, there was a sharp hiss of wheels, metal clashing over metal, and then the shining train whizzed past, leaving a tranquil silence in its wake.

“What can we learn from a train?” challenged the young man.

“Be late for a moment—and you miss it! Such is the importance of a moment!” replied the wise man.

After a brief silence, the young man gazed through the window at the telegraphic wires running from pole to pole. “What can we learn from the telegraph?” he asked.

“That every word is counted and carries a cost! Hence, be conscious of your speech,” the wise man answered.

“And what can we learn from the telephone?” inquired the young man once more.

The old man closed his eyes and, in a soft voice, said, “That what we say here can be heard up there!”